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Staying informed about the news is no easy feat. It’s so challenging, in fact, that we’ve taken it upon ourselves to simplify things by bringing you the most impactful, strange, or downright unbelievable stories every week.
This week, the United States found itself consumed by the aftermath of yet another devastating mass shooting, marking the second such tragedy in less than a month. But beyond that heart-wrenching incident, a surprising set of headlines emerged from an unexpected place. Saudi Arabia grabbed the spotlight with not one, but three huge stories, each one capable of reshaping the Middle East—and potentially the world. We’ll dive into all three, along with a selection of mind-boggling events from around the globe.
10. Texas Experienced Its Deadliest Mass Shooting in History
Just a month ago, a disturbed individual opened fire from a Las Vegas hotel onto a concert crowd, killing 58 and injuring more than 500. It was the deadliest mass shooting in US history, and before the country could even begin to process it, another tragedy unfolded. This Sunday, Devin Patrick Kelley entered a church in the small town of Sutherland Springs, Texas, and began shooting. 26 lives were lost in the barrage of gunfire, making it the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history.
Kelley’s story is filled with missed chances and systemic failure. In 2012, he was convicted in a military court for assaulting his wife and child. That conviction should have disqualified him from purchasing firearms, yet the Air Force failed to report this vital information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Even more shockingly, it has now come to light that he had recently escaped from a mental health facility before the shooting. If authorities had acted responsibly, 26 lives could have been spared.
The massacre could have been far worse. Kelley only stopped when a local citizen managed to shoot him twice. He fled the scene in his vehicle, pursued by the man who shot him, who had flagged down a passing driver for assistance. Kelley eventually crashed his SUV and ended his own life with a gunshot to the head. He was found dead at the scene.
9. Saudi Arabia Launched an Unprecedented Purge of Its Elite
Forget everything you thought you knew about Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is in the midst of a radical cultural transformation. The once-dominant religious police have lost their authority. Extremist clerics (who, in Saudi Arabia, include most of them) are being imprisoned. Women’s rights have been officially recognized in law, Western influences are now being welcomed, and the country’s economy is undergoing a massive restructuring.
All of this can be attributed to one man: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the future leader determined to free Saudi Arabia from its reliance on Islamist extremism. This week, he made his commitment clear by removing 11 members of the Saudi royal family on corruption charges and sidelining 20 others. It marked the first time in modern Saudi history that the ruling class has faced such large-scale legal accountability.
The individuals arrested were powerful conservatives who had opposed Mohammed bin Salman’s reforms. Even criticizing them would have been unimaginable just a year ago. This purge demonstrates that the crown prince is serious about transforming Saudi Arabia from a theocratic monarchy into a modern state. If successful, the effects on the Middle East could be profound.
8. The US Elected Its First Openly Transgender Legislator
In the US elections of November 7, the Democrats saw their first significant victories since the collapse of the Clinton campaign. On Tuesday, the party unexpectedly held Virginia’s gubernatorial seat and gained New Jersey. (They also maintained control of New York City, though “Democrat holds New York” is hardly breaking news.) With recounts still underway, they might even have flipped Virginia’s House of Delegates from red to blue.
For a party that has been struggling, this was a much-needed moment of optimism. However, the real historical achievement didn’t happen in the major races. It took place in Virginia’s 13th District. Former journalist Danica Roem defeated incumbent delegate Robert Marshall by ten points, making her the first openly transgender individual to be elected as a US legislator.
The important term here is “openly.” In 1992, Republican Althea Garrison became the first transgender legislator in the nation, but her identity was only revealed after her election. (Another openly transgender woman, Stacie Laughton, was elected in 2012 but resigned before assuming office.)
Roem’s victory was even more remarkable because she ran against an opponent who was a vocal anti-LGBT figure, branding himself as Virginia’s “chief homophobe.” Her win brought an end to 26 years of Republican dominance in her district.
7. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Surprised Everyone by Resigning (From Saudi Arabia)
And now for our second major story from Saudi Arabia this week. On Friday, the Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri, left his home country for a work trip to Saudi Arabia. Shortly after arriving, he appeared on television with a shocking announcement: he was resigning, and he feared that Hezbollah was plotting to kill him. His unexpected departure could plunge Lebanon into chaos.
Lebanon is a deeply unstable country, plagued by sectarian conflicts that stem from its brutal civil war in the 1980s. With a Sunni prime minister, Christian president, and Shiite parliamentary speaker (each role reserved for a specific religious group), Lebanon is a prime battleground in the ongoing proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran’s growing influence in Syria has left the Sunni-led Saudis scrambling to retain their power in the region. With Hezbollah, a group allied with Iran, sitting in Lebanon’s parliament, Riyadh is increasingly worried about a Shiite takeover.
Rumors circulating internationally suggest that the Saudis may have forced Hariri to resign. Regardless of the truth, his sudden exit could destabilize Lebanon. If it does, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran could escalate into even more dangerous and unpredictable territories.
6. New Caledonia Set to Hold Referendum on Independence from France
Located just east of Australia, the French territory of New Caledonia is as far from Paris as Guam is from Washington, DC. Despite being so distant, it remained a part of France throughout the wave of European decolonization, enduring even bloody confrontations between indigenous locals and French forces in the 1980s. Now, however, New Caledonia might be on the brink of self-determination. Last Friday, France agreed to allow the territory to hold a referendum on self-rule in 2018, a decision that could pave the way for New Caledonian independence.
With the stalled independence movements in Kurdistan and Catalonia, it’s easy to assume that New Caledonia will remain a part of France no matter what. However, Paris is at least officially supporting this referendum, and there is now a formal political agreement in place to proceed with it. Although only 45 percent of the population is indigenous, some of European descent may eventually support the idea of independence.
If New Caledonia achieves independence, it will become the first French province to break away since Vanuatu in 1980.
5. A Yemeni Missile Came Close to Causing Disaster in Saudi Arabia’s Capital
On Saturday, a missile launched from Yemen hurtled through the dark skies above Saudi Arabia’s vast desert and targeted the capital, Riyadh. The missile was aimed at the city’s main airport, coming dangerously close to causing a major catastrophe before Saudi forces managed to intercept and destroy it. It’s just another example of how hectic the week has been in Saudi Arabia.
The missile was launched by Shiite Houthi rebels, who have been fighting against the Yemeni government. Since 2014, they have controlled much of the country’s western region, including the capital, Sana’a. For nearly as long, Saudi forces have been conducting indiscriminate bombings. However, the missile attack was not viewed in Riyadh as just a response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. It was seen as a direct assault on a Sunni Muslim nation by Shia Iran.
Iran has been supporting the Houthi rebels as part of its strategy to extend its influence across the Middle East. As noted in the Lebanon entry above, Riyadh has been scrambling to counter this threat. The concern is that this missile attack might ignite an actual war between Saudi Arabia and Iran— a regional conflict that could make the ongoing violence in Syria seem insignificant.
4. Zimbabwe Experienced Its First Major Challenge to Mugabe’s Rule in Decades
Grace Mugabe, the wife of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, is infamous for having one of the most repugnant personalities around. She recently made headlines by savagely attacking a South African model and then attempting to claim diplomatic immunity. Hated throughout impoverished Zimbabwe for her lavish lifestyle, which would even make Imelda Marcos blush, this week showed the first signs that her unpopularity may bring down the Mugabe regime.
Robert Mugabe is 93 years old, and his death in the coming years seems inevitable. As a result, a power struggle has erupted in Harare over who will succeed him. Mugabe’s allies and generals favor his powerful deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa (pictured above). Grace Mugabe, however, favors herself. This week, Grace triumphed in the internal battle, with Mugabe dismissing Mnangagwa from his post.
Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe but has vowed to return and lead the nation. This could signal the beginning of an uprising, as Mnangagwa has the backing of much of the country’s security forces. The situation now presents a genuine possibility that Mnangagwa could dismantle the Mugabe regime. If he plays his cards wisely, Grace Mugabe may soon face a downfall similar to that of Jiang Qing, the wife of Chairman Mao.
3. The Financial Secrets of the Elite Were Unveiled
Do you remember the Panama Papers? The largest leak in history exposed the financial activities of the rich and caused governments to collapse. 18 months later, the sequel has arrived. This week, the 'Paradise Papers' were released, revealing how the ultra-wealthy have hidden trillions of dollars in (legal) offshore accounts. The revelations have left many prominent figures in a highly embarrassing position.
Among those exposed for dodging taxes were U2’s lead singer Bono, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, a senior aide to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Apple Inc., and even Queen Elizabeth II. The Ross revelations highlight questionable ties to Russian businessmen on the sanctions list, while Trudeau’s aide, Stephen Bronfman, might have defrauded Canada out of millions in taxes.
It's worth mentioning that all the activities detailed in the leaked documents are technically legal. The backlash comes from the perception that it’s unjust, with one set of rules for billionaires and another for everyone else. Only time will tell if these revelations lead to changes in international laws to curb such questionable practices.
2. The Final ISIS Stronghold in Syria Was Freed
ISIS had a disastrous week. Last Friday, Syrian government forces drove them out of their final significant stronghold in Deir al-Zour. Hours later, the Iraqi military reclaimed al-Qaim with hardly any resistance and took back the terror group’s last border post between Syria and Iraq. By Thursday, Syrian forces had pushed ISIS out of the town of Albu Kamal, their final urban stronghold in Syria. Now, ISIS controls only a few scattered villages and desert pockets.
That’s not to say ISIS has been entirely wiped out. They still hold tens of thousands of civilians under their so-called caliphate and proved this week that they are capable of shocking acts, like storming an Afghan TV station in Kabul and murdering two journalists. However, when compared to a year ago, or even just six months ago, when they controlled entire cities, it’s safe to say the downfall of their caliphate has been as swift and surprising as its rise.
The eventual defeat of ISIS is now just a question of when. Yet, this doesn’t mean the world can relax. ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks remain a real and tragic possibility.
1. The Escalating Sexual Harassment Scandals Took a Tragic Turn
You may not recognize the name Carl Sargeant. A Welsh Labour Party MP, Sargeant was for years just another unnoticed politician. But last week, he was caught up in the wave of sexual harassment scandals that have been dominating media headlines in the US and UK government.
Sargeant was dismissed from his position by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones after anonymous allegations against him came to light. This is where the situation becomes deeply troubling. On Tuesday, Sargeant tragically took his own life. The emotional toll of not knowing the specific nature of the allegations, combined with his existing mental health struggles, led to this devastating decision.
Sargeant's death has caused a political firestorm in Wales. It also highlights serious issues in how we handle accusations of sexual misconduct. Sargeant was denied any details about the accusations made against him and was removed from his position without being given the opportunity to appeal. This lack of transparency left him defenseless, and feeling trapped, he tragically took his own life.
While it's commendable that more people are speaking out about harassment, Sargeant’s death serves as a stark reminder that the fundamental principle of justice must never be forgotten: individuals are innocent until proven guilty. Carl Sargeant was treated as guilty from the start, and that presumption led to a needless and tragic outcome.
